2017年-世界发展银行全球_Options_for_Reforming_Early_Retirement_System_for_Special_and_Hazardous_Occupations_in_Montenegro_136页_1mb

Summary of the Report on Early Retirement System Reform for Special and Hazardous Occupations in Montenegro

Core Content

This report outlines options for reforming the early retirement system in Montenegro, particularly for workers in special and hazardous occupations. It highlights the challenges posed by demographic changes and the current inefficiencies in the pension system, emphasizing the need for alignment with European Union (EU) standards and practices.

Main Views and Key Information

Demographic and Labor Market Context

• Population Ageing: Montenegro is experiencing rapid population ageing due to increased life expectancy and declining fertility rates. The old-age dependency ratio is projected to rise from 19 in 2010 to 47.1 in 2065.
• Employment Rates: Montenegro has one of the lowest employment rates among EU countries. In 2015, only 51.4% of the population aged 15-64 had jobs, and this dropped to 23.6% for those aged 50 and over.
• Labor Participation: The working life duration in Montenegro is shorter than the EU average, with only 33 years and three months of pension contributions in 2015, compared to 35.4 years in the EU.

Pension System Situation

• Pension Expenditure: Pension contributions finance less than 70% of total expenditures, with a current deficit in the pension system.
• Retirement Age: The retirement age was raised to 67, aligning with European trends, but early retirement options were reintroduced in 2010, contributing to high pension expenditure (11% of GDP).
• Extended Service Period: Early retirement is available for those with long service periods (40 years for men, gradually rising to 40 years for women) and for workers in hazardous or special conditions. The supplementary contribution rate for early retirees ranges from 6% to 28%, but is not actuarially sufficient to cover the costs.

Early Retirement in Montenegro

• Eligibility: Early retirement is available through various routes, including long service, bankruptcy-related layoffs, and hazardous occupations.
• Hazardous Occupations: The list of hazardous occupations is broad, including jobs like flight attendants, truck drivers, and miners.
• Transparency Issues: Data on extended service periods is not publicly available, reducing transparency and complicating the management of supplementary contributions.

International Practice

• EU Trends: EU countries are moving towards increasing the legal retirement age and introducing penalties for early retirement in pension formulas.
• Poland Example: Poland implemented a reform in 2009, narrowing the list of hazardous occupations and introducing a "bridging" benefit for early retirees, which improved system sustainability and increased employment among older workers.
• Recommendations: The report suggests narrowing the scope of extended service pensions to those with long-lasting health impacts, such as underground work, extreme temperatures, and heavy physical labor. These should be limited to below 2% of the workforce (excluding military and police).

Reforms and Recommendations

• Actuarial Fairness: Early retirement pensions should be financed by actuarially fair separate contributions from employees and employers, with the period not exceeding 5 years.
• Transparency and Data Quality: The system should improve data availability and quality on extended service and hazardous occupations.
• Labor Market Reforms: Adjust work conditions to accommodate older workers, support re-training, and improve work flexibility.
• Special Benefits for Mothers: The report recommends re-evaluating special benefits for mothers, as they are linked to early retirement and can impact labor participation.

Structure of the Report

• Executive Summary: Summarizes the key findings and recommendations.
• Introduction: Sets the context for the report, highlighting the need for pension system reform.
• Demographic and Labor Market Context: Provides an overview of the demographic and labor market challenges in Montenegro.
• Pension System Situation: Discusses the current state of the pension system and its financial sustainability.
• Early Retirement in Montenegro: Analyzes the current early retirement mechanisms and their impact.
• International Practice: Reviews how other countries, particularly the EU, handle early retirement for special and hazardous occupations.
• Conclusions and Recommendations: Proposes specific reforms to improve the sustainability and efficiency of the early retirement system in Montenegro.

Conclusion

The report concludes that reforming the early retirement system in Montenegro is necessary to ensure financial sustainability and promote longer working lives. It recommends a more targeted approach for hazardous occupations, based on actuarial fairness and professional medical input, while also supporting labor market reforms to enhance employment rates among older workers and mothers.